The newly-enacted Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program Act is set for implementation to help address the challenges of learning loss, with the finalization of its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
This came just 34 days after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12028 or the ARAL Law.
“Sa pangmatagalan, makakatulong siya dahil gaganda yung abilidad ng ating estudyante, especially sa sinasabi na critical thinking (In the long run, it will help because the ability of students will improve, especially in what they call critical thinking),” he said in a statement Tuesday.
Lawmakers behind the ARAL Law, meanwhile, lauded Angara for the swift drafting of the IRR.
“Sa sobrang bilis ho ni (Because of the speed of [Sec. Angara]), in 34 days from the effectivity of this Act, mayroon nang (we already have an) IRR. In the law, kami ni Congressman (Roman Romulo) identified 60 days or we permitted 60 days for the IRR to come out,” ARAL Law principal author, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, said during the IRR signing on Monday.
“Kagaya ng sabi ni Senator Sherwin, masyadong mabilis ‘yung DepEd Secretary. Masyadong mabilis (Just as what Senator Sherwin said, the DepEd Secretary was quite swift. That’s very quick),” Senator Joel Villanueva said.
Under the ARAL Law, “targeted” free learning interventions will be provided to struggling learners, aiming to boost the foundational skills of Kindergarten learners; and literacy and numeracy for Grades 1 to 10 learners.
Computerization funding
Angara, meanwhile, lauded the President for vowing to “find ways” to restore the PHP10 billion cut on the DepEd’s computerization program under the 2025 proposed budget.
“Na-instruct niya na ako na mag-coordinate sa ibang Secretaries ng gabinete, specifically si Secretary (Amenah) Pangandaman ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) kung papaano mapupunan iyong nawala doon sa budget ng Department of Education (He has already instructed me to coordinate with the Cabinet Secretaries, particularly Secretary Pangandaman of the DBM on how to cover the slashed budget of the DepEd),” he said in a separate ambush interview.
Angara said there are various alternatives where the budget could be sourced — savings, augmentation on existing items, and unprogrammed appropriations, among others.
He, however, underscored the need to secure such a fund considering existing partnerships with the private sector that aim to boost the DepEd’s computerization program for learners.
“Sa ibang bansa binabayaran iyon pero dito sa atin binibigay nang libre. E kaso, kung nawala iyong computer, hindi magagamit iyon (In other countries, it’s paid, but here, it’s freely given. But if there is no computer, the partnership is useless),” Angara said.
The DepEd has an existing partnership with Smart for free Internet, and with the Khan Academy for the free Artificial Intelligence tool aiding teachers and learners. (PNA)